Improvement in harvesters



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK H. MANNY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS. y

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,969, dated June 23, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I FREDERIcK H. MANNY, of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Harvesters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which make part of this speci'h'cation, and in which- Figure l represents a view in perspective of so much of a John H. Manny harvester embracing my improvement as is necessary to illustrate my invention, the machine being shown as cutting close to the ground and with the platform tilted upon its axis, as it would be in such a machine -when cutting a short stubble; and Fig. 2. a similar view of the same, with thc rear end of the platforln lowered until it is horizontal, or nearly so, as provided for in my invention.

In all that class of machines having the tinger-beam in advance of the driving-Wheel (of which that known as the John H. Manny machine is a prominent type) itis found necessary to tiltthe frame uponiits axis of oscillation in order to raise and lower thecutting apparatus. This tilting of the frame has heretofore formed a serious objection to the use of these machines, as the -raker, when cutting short and lodged grain, is obliged to rake the grain up alsteep inclined plane, which is laborious and exhausting, and, besides, involves the, straggling and wasting of the grain, owing to the imperfect delivery.

Itis the object of my invention to remedy these defects in this class of machines; and to this end my invention consists in severing the rear trame-timbers of the machine, which sustain the rear end of the platform, at or near their points ofintersection with the side pieces ofthe frame, and in suspending them and the platform in adjustable brackets.

In the accompanying drawings, the timbers of the traine are shown in the form as united in'the John H.- Manny machine, A being the rear frame-beam, intersected at a and a by the braces C and D on opposite sides of the platform E, which is hinged or pivoted on its front edges to the linger-beam F, at b and c,

`and securely fastened at its rear end to the,

'an extent that it can always be kept nearly or quite horizontal, whatever the distance of the linger-beam from the ground, and thus, notwithstanding the distance of the finger-beam from the ground, has to be changed to suit the character and condition of the crop to be cut, the horizontal position ofthe platform cati always be controlled at the will of the operator, however much it may be found desirable to tilt the frame to render the cutting apparatus the most etfective.

It is obvious that when the machine is to be used as a mower the hinged platform can be removed and the beam A and brace I brought up Hush with the severed ends of the beam and brace, and there secured by the screw and bracket without any injurious diminution ot' the strength of the frame.

It is also obvious that other modes of ad-y justment mayl be adopted without aifectin g the principles of my invention.

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In that class of harvesting-machines having the finger-beam forward of the driving-wheel, the combination of the hinged plattorm with the divided frame, when made adjustable, substantially in the manner and for the purpos described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub'- scribed my name.

FREDERICK H. MANY. 

